2014 World Cup: Ghana's group opponents USA to play Mexico in friendly today

Published on: 02 April 2014
2014 World Cup: Ghana's group opponents USA to play Mexico in friendly today
USA players will take on Mexico in a friendly on Wednesday

Ghana's World Cup opponents, the United States have lined up a friendly against Mexico today (Wednesday) to help them prepare for the tournament in Brazil in June.

Wednesday's game is also the last chance for certain members of the MLS-heavy roster to present their case for Jurgen Klinsmann.

The German trainer is using mostly home-based players to play the game as European clubs would not release their players for the match as it is bang in the middle of the season.

After a US squad made up primarily of European-based players lost 2-0 to Ukraine in their last friendly, there are a handful of players on the bubble who could increase their chances if they play well.

While the last tune-up before Klinsmann hands out plane tickets to Brazil could be last-chance hotel or already too late, it is probably somewhere in between.

With a number of regulars expected to play big roles at this summer’s tournament called to the team, led by Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez, Wednesday offers a good chance for them to start getting on the same page for the big tournament.

But there are also several players fighting for that spot on the plane, such as recent MLS returnees Maurice Edu and Michael Parkhurst, who will be anxious to impress the boss.

Conversely, the situation was complicated for both Klinsmann and Puebla defenders DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco, who were not granted release by the Mexican club as it fights a relegation battle in Liga MX.

“We are very disappointed in the decision by Puebla,” Klinsmann said in a statement.

“When the match was scheduled, it was with the spirit that both teams would have access to their domestic-based players for what is a very important game for those competing for spots in the World Cup. It's a huge opportunity lost for DaMarcus and Michael and doesn't contribute to the continuation of this respected rivalry.”

There are also a few wildcards thrown into this camp, youngsters Julian Green and the Seattle Sounders' DeAndre Yedlin.

Green, the Bayern Munich product who recently spurned the German national team to join the Red, White and Blue, has earned his first senior-team call-up and will likely make his USMNT debut.

Can Green impress enough in this short period of time to book his trip to the World Cup?

“We don’t want to put any type of pressure on [Julian] or too high of expectations. At the end of the day, he’s a player to be developed,” Klinsmann said.

“Developed mainly in his club from one point to the next, and we are going to help this development. How everything can then proceed is up to him. We take his pace, we take his development there and have a very close eye on him.”

This is the first meeting between the two historic CONCACAF rivals since the latest Dos a Cero US victory on Sept. 10, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio, a win that secured the Yanks' trip to the World Cup.

The previous friendly between the two teams also proved historic, as a Michael Orozco goal and a Tim Howard shutout delivered the USMNT their first victory against El Tri on Mexico soil, a 1-0 win on Aug. 15, 2012, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Overall, the US are 17-32-13 all-time against Mexico, but since 2000 the US are 12-5-4 in the series, including a 10-2-3 record on American soil.

Ghana will open their World Cup campaign against the United States before taking on Germany and Portugal.

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